KaMiya French, or KaMiya Gross as she also is called, was killed July 1, 2014, in Inkster, Mich. / Detroit Free Press

by Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press

by Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press

DETROIT - The father of a 2-year-old girl shot in the head at point-blank range earlier this month did not hesitate when he described why his daughter was killed.

"The idea was to kill my baby to make me suffer before they killed me," Kenneth French said, his voice thundering through a courtroom in the Detroit suburb of Inkster on Wednesday. It was a motive that he said had been posted on Facebook.

French, the father of KaMiya French, or KaMiya Gross as she also is called, was one of five witnesses who testified during the preliminary examinations for Raymone B. Jackson, 25, and Rapheal Hearn, 29. Jackson and Hearn face first-degree murder and other charges in what police have described as the retaliation killing of KaMiya at an Inkster housing project on July 1. Jackson faces the additional charge of torture.

Judge Sabrina Johnson ordered the case against Jackson bound over to Wayne County Circuit Court, where Jackson is to be arraigned July 23, and also ordered an expedited competency exam for Hearn, whose next court date is Sept. 4.

Attorneys had argued over Hearn's competency, with his defense attorney, Matthew Evans, saying Hearn had been undergoing therapy and was taking psychotropic medicine. Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Jaimie Powell Horowitz noted that in previous criminal cases, Hearn's mental health had not been questioned.

Jackson's defense attorney, Evan Callahan Jr. of Westland, argued that the torture charge was not warranted, but Johnson said if a 2-year-old was shot to hurt her father, then "there is some evidence that that would be considered torture." Callahan also argued against the murder charge, noting that "testimony conflicts as to who was shot first," based on a statement by French that Jackson shot him in the chest and then began shooting at others.

But Horowitz said, "It was a choice to turn the gun on KaMiya. It was a choice to turn the gun on Mr. French."

It was an intense day in court, with at least one spectator tossed and Johnson threatening to boot others, noting that "this is not television; this is serious." She also challenged Jackson, who could be seen smiling at times, as well as mouthing and gesturing to one of the witnesses in what Horowitz suggested was intimidation.

During a brief break in his testimony, French glared and then pointed at Jackson, shouting, "You walked up like a friend," before an officer intervened and calmed him. French, who is in a wheelchair and has casts on his left arm and foot, wore a black T-shirt with a photo on the front showing him and his daughter together. The words "R.I.P. My baby girl KaMiya" stretched across the back.

Multiple witnesses identified Jackson as the shooter and Hearn as the getaway driver. Saneetra Smith said she watched Jackson, who was wearing black Cartier sunglasses, walk past her as she sat in a vehicle the evening of July 1. He nodded at her and continued to the porch where French was sitting and KaMiya was playing nearby with other children. French greeted Jackson, who said nothing before opening fire on KaMiya followed by the others, she said.

She watched as French rolled over and tried to shield others on the porch with his body.

"I was in shock. I was in shock," Smith said.

Wayne County Medical Examiner Carl Schmidt said KaMiya was shot in the right eye.

As the shooting unfolded, Tori Holt, French's cousin who also was at the porch, said she heard French saying over and over, "My baby, my baby. They shot my baby."

Holt's 12-year-old daughter had been shot in the stomach, which Holt covered with her hand to keep the girl from bleeding to death.

Holt acknowledged during questioning that she could not initially Jackson without his sunglasses.

The case has been painted as retaliation for a shooting in April at a motorcycle club. French testified that Hearn, who is known as Shoes, had come into the club where French spends time to buy ecstasy, but asked for an escort out because some people there did not like him.

Problems began, French said, when Hearn got a gun from his car, returned to the club and shot someone. But Hearn also was shot. French said that Hearn blamed him for not protecting him.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Jackson and Hearn would face life in prison. Both have had multiple convictions on other charges.